The Sri Lanka Sports Association of Sri Lanka of Queensland had the honour of hosting and supporting three athletes and coach of the Sri Lanka Paralympic team taking part in the recent 2023 Australian Open Para Athletics Championships held at the Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre in Nathan, Brisbane.
The team comprised former army athletes Dinesh Priyantha, Samitha Dulan, Palitha Bandara and coach Pradeep Nishantha.
The SLSAQ received a request from the Sri Lanka National Paralympic Committee to host the squad during their stay in Brisbane as the NPC had funding constraints. The Brisbane Sri Lankan community embraced the visitors and made sure their stay was comfortable, with meals and accommodation.
SLSAQ president Sunil Gooneratne said: “With the generous support of our member associations and the local community, we organised a successful fundraising campaign to provide accommodation and food. The response from the community was overwhelming, and we are grateful for their support in making this endeavour a success.
“We believe that inclusivity and support for athletes with disabilities are essential in promoting diversity and equality in sports. The opportunity to host and support the Sri Lankan Paralympic team was a testament to our commitment to these values, and we are grateful to everyone who contributed to the fundraising campaign and made this initiative possible.”
The overseas component of the tour was coordinated by NPC coach Anula Costa who is living in Australia.
The Sri Lankan Paralympic team’s individual achievements:
Dinesh Priyantha: F46 – Javelin Throw; Paralympic Gold Medal and New World Record 2021 Tokyo, Achievement 67.79m.
Dinesh Priyantha: F46 – Australian Open Para Athletics Championships 2023, Gold Medal.
Samitha Dulan: F44 – Javelin Throw Paralympic Bronze Medal. Tokyo 2021.
Samitha Dulan: F44 – Javelin Throw Australian Open Championships 2023, Silver Medal.
Palitha Bandara: F42 -Shot Put Throw Silver Medal – Asian Games 2018- Indonesia
Palitha Bandara: Silver Medal Discus Throw Commonwealth Games at Birmingham 2022.
Palitha Bandara: Shot Put, Australian Open Paralympics 2023, 5th.
Coach: Pradeep Nishantha for Dinesh and Samitha.
Letter of Appreciation from Anula Costa
Dear colleagues,
On behalf of the Sri Lanka Para Athletics Team, I would like to extend my utmost gratitude to you all. Thank you for your hard work this past week. Your dedication helped these athletes reach the best performances while they were on Australian soil in Brisbane.
I deeply appreciated every member of this team for showing relentless effort for this project. It was complicated, it was last minute, it was difficult and it was overall everything you all have faced, but collective good hearts got together as a great “Sri Lankan Community “ hosting high for our heroes .
I was only on over the phone and lucky enough to meet “Sunil Maththaya” at the stadium .
These were their words: “We have been looked after like their children with high concern and care.” They have left with great happiness and love in their hearts with deep gratitude and appreciation.
I deeply and humbly bow my head to you all.
Thank you deeply.
Stay blessed and healthy .
Regards,
Anula Costa
